Hideki Matsuyama eases to WGC-HSBC Champions title in Shanghai

Hideki Matsuyama of Japan became the first Asian victor of a World Golf Championships event after seeing off Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger by seven shots in Shanghai, China. "Hopefully, then, after I finish the 18th hole, I can go directly to No. 1 and start my fourth round".

Matsuyama realized that one last birdie would give him 30 for the week, so he went for the green on the par-5 18th and his shot bounced out of a bush and tumbled into the water. His only hard moment came at the par-three fourth hole when he went over the green and his chip came out soft, stopping about 15 feet short of the cup.

But he still managed to get up and down in style with holing an 18-foot putt for a closing par to cap a weekend to remember in style.

Matsuyama made an astonishing 29 birdies, streeting the field in China to win by seven shots.

"It was tough to pull myself back". "The last three years, I've had to withdraw twice and I didn't play very well the other year".

The Japanese, who broke into the world's top-10 on the Official World Golf Ranking this week, is up against some of the world's best players at the Sheshan International Golf Club and will be hoping to wield his putter like a magical wand on the day that would matter most.

Rain the last two days gave way to a strong wind when Matsuyama was warming up, and the wind made the sharp dip of temperatures into the 50s feel even worse.

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama fired a final round six under 66 for a seven-shot victory and a total of 23-under-par to lift the WGC-HSBC Champions title in Shanghai on Sunday.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP)  Amy Yang holed a pitching wedge for eagle on the par-4 11th hole and stretched her lead to three strokes in the hot, humid and stormy Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.

The 27-year-old Chinese star beat Suzann Pettersen by three strokes at TPC Kuala Lumpur, shooting a 4-under 67 after finishing off a third-round 64 in the morning. He's an extremely aggressive iron player, and when he's on, he's as good as anyone.

Meanwhile also on the United States PGA Tour, Australia's Cameron Smith is in contention for his first American Tour win at 12-under par through three rounds of the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson.

Matsuyama's second successive bogey-free card appeared under threat when his approach in to the last rolled in to the hazard, only for the leader to get up-and-down to save par from 10 feet and complete a third victory of 2016.

The 57-year-old Tom Pernice Jr. closed with a 2-under 70, breaking a tie for the lead with Montgomerie with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-4 14th and adding a 15-footer on the par-3 15th.

List also shot 65 to match Kirk at 14 under at the Country Club of Jackson.

Kirk had eight birdies in a 7-under 65 to share the third-round lead with LukeList.